Just met Bernadette Peters! Wow!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/19/11 at 11:37pm

That's right! I just met Bernadette in of all places- Jacksonville, Florida! I was able to arrange through a friend of mine whose family sponsored her at the symphony. I asked how my daughter and her fellow musical theatre students at our only performing arts high school could meet her. Within a couple of days, my friend not only arranged for free tickets but also a private group meeting with her! She came back stage and took a group photo, signed autographs, and answered questions. Her show was amazing and she looked stunning back stage. Their teacher was practically drooling over her! She was hogging her a bit and at first the kids were afraid to ask questions but they eventually did. She was very pleasant but she left herself on stage. I think she was trying to save her voice. But wow! She is truly amazing! The kids were so grateful to meet her! I mean- wow! She blew away Shenandoah and Joanna! Wow!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 12:24am

I have a feeling someone peed themselves just a little!

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 12:26am

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 12:29am

Did you get to ask one question that was special or specially timed?

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 12:31am

Congrats SupportiveMom. I was at the concert also. You also had the extra treat of hearing her rendition of Losing My Mind from Follies. It was worth it to me just to hear Children Will Listen & No one Is Alone.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 12:34am

Sounds amazing! SO happy for you and a little bit jealous!! :)

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 12:52am

Artman- wow- another Jacksonville poster on BWW- Send me a PM so we can identify ourselves! It was so nice that the students were announced at the beginning of the concert- such great publicity for the kids and the musical theatre program.

PalJoey- Their teacher was hogging a bit so some of the other adults present asked questions to break up the awesomeness of meeting her. I asked her if that was a Bob Mackie dress she was wearing- she smled and said indeed it was. All the kids were like snap. I said I knew Bob Mackie's designs. I told her I had met him before and we talked about the Went with the Wind dress on Carol Burnett. I said he is such a nice man and she agreed. I also told her that I was glad for youtube so that I could show my daughter the skit she did on As the Stomach Turns when she spoofed the Exorcist and played Raven. She laughed at that. One student asked about her hair and what products she used. She went over to another student who has similar hair but shorter. She touched her hair and told her how pretty she is- and she is! My daughter asked about what she does when she wakes up and she has no voice. She told her to rest it and to try using Throat Coat tea- I had never heard of it but she said you can get in a healthfood store. One student asked about her favorite show. To be honest, I was busy trying to take pictures so I didn't hear all the questions,

The kids told her they did ALNM last year so she was asking who played who. It was just so nice that she spent so much time with them. She wasn't overly perky but she just did finish her show.

Yes, I loved her version of Losing My Mind, Children Will Listen, and No One is Alone. I was disappointed she didn't do Not a Day Goes By and was surprised she did so much South Pacific.

When the kids told her they had to audition to get into the school and the program and the classes they took, she said- Aw- you all are like Glee! (I still think she should guess star on that show), The teacher asked her what's next show- (which she obviously didn't research because she should have known it's Follies at the Kennedy Center-lol) Anyway, I'm still so excited about this show and being able to meet one of my idols. I can't even sleep!

[moljul]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 1:04am

"She wasn't overly perky but she just did finish her show."

SupportiveMom, by all accounts of people I have talked to who have worked with her or met her in some sort of professional setting, while Bernadette does seem to be a very extroverted performer on stage, off stage, she is really very quiet and a bit reserved. So yes, she has just finished a show but I don't think that was as big of a factor as you think. You just met the real off stage Bernadette Peters.

I remember comments from Lea Salonga after she did the Hey, Mr. Producer concert with Bernadette and Bernadette's long time Musical Director, Marvin Laird, commenting how quiet she is off stage. Marvin met her when she was 13 doing Gypsy and said she was just this quiet young girl and then she got on stage and WOW!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 1:16am

Thanks moljul. I do believe she leaves herself on stage. She was very quiet and reserved and I can completely see where you are coming from. I guess I wrote that because from her stage persona some people might expect her to be like that in person. I found her to be extremely pleasant, elegant, and stunning in appearance. My daughter said on the way home that she couldn't believe how beautiful her face is! She said I don't know how much makeup she was wearing from the stage but I could see no wrinkles. Her body is so petite and toned.

Anyway, my son is an actor who loves comedy and is extremely funny. However, at home and around the family- he barely says a word and can be very shy. People would tell me that he better get over that because how could he be an actor. I would tell them that you can't go by that. On stage, he is a completely different person because on stage- he is someone else. On stage, Bernadette let's it all out. She did "Fever" tonight and was rolling all over the piano. When she came back stage, she was so humble. She is wonderful and really knows how to seel a song. She told the teacher that on stage, she was many characters tonight. She said, this is all my show. As you can tell- I had a spectacular night and was so thrilled for this opportunity and the ability to share it with my daughter!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 1:36am

p.s. She did tell the kids that you have to work hard to keep your voice in shape. I'm so glad she told them that. Our kids live in an age where instant fame is the norm. She did tell them that education is very important. Anyway, when you heard her sing tonight- it was quite apparent how important it is to have classical training. She held out so many long notes on Joanna and it looked so effortless for her!

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 1:40am

I'm just a schmuck, but I'm a schmuck that has performed on stage at least a couple of times. I can say from my own experience that I'm okay when I'm on stage with direction and a character, but outside of that I'm highly uncomfortable. I can only imagine that the discomfort increases with your profile.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 2:35am

Nathan Lane is the same way. He's a completely different person when he's out of his "Nathan Lane" persona.

[Q]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 3:39am

Some people who know her refer to Better Midler as 'the Librarian'. That kind of sums it up for me.

Supmom - I love that you had this experience - and the kids!

I love this woman's output into the world.

[sanfrankid1]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 4:08am

I met Bernadette Peters when I worked as an apprentice in the 70's at the South Shore Music Circus in Massachusetts I remember seeing the Bus pull up with her and the Chorus.The musical was "WHERE'S CHARLEY" Over a weeks time I chatted with her and watched her rehearsals,she was so friendly.....Who knew?

Updated On: 1/20/11 at 04:08 AM

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 7:53am

Artman- are your initial JCU? Just making a guess!

sanfrankid- thanks for the story. She was very friendly and I liked how engaged she was with the students. What also impressed me is how she introduced the orchestra members as they played solos throughout the show. It was funny that Cubby, the original Mouseketeer, was her drummer last night!

[moljul]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 10:41am

Yeah, Cubby is almost always her drummer. I think she has a bass player who also travels with her pretty regularly. Then of course, Marvin Laird, is always there.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 2:19pm

http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=33710704&event=1155549&CategoryID=57820&picnum=54&move=F#Image

Here's a link to the photos from last night. Pictures with Bernadette start at 24. My daughter is the gorgeous one in the royal blue mini dress and long brown hair standing about 2 people over to the right of Bernadette!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 2:21pm

oops- forgot to tell you to scroll to the bottom and click on the one that says Bernadette meets DA students.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 4:05pm

[sabrelady]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 5:04pm

Your daughter is lovely!

Ms Peters is a very quiet person, but she is always aware and interested in what is going on around her. ( met her yrs ago on a little movie she did in Toronto) I remember she used her own Badgley Mischa dress as it was MUCH more elegant than anything the production could have come up with. Glad you had such a wonderful experience.

[moljul]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 5:17pm

Great pictures. I love the looks on the kids' faces. I'm sure they will remember the experience for a long time to come.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 7:46pm

Looks like you and the kids had a great experience! Bernadette looks flawless! Such a beautiful woman!

[coryografer]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 8:28pm

supprtivemom thank you so much for posting such a delightful event. We are lucky to share it with you. THIS is what this message board should be about.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/20/11 at 8:40pm

cory- thanks! It is MY pleasure to share! Sabre- thanks for the compliments on my daughter. Luckily, she is just as pretty on the inside! Carlos- she is flawless!

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/21/11 at 12:10pm

Icing on the cake- my daughter's picture made it in the paper today and she's standing right next to Bernadette!